Grass Valley man booked in connection with 20 vehicle break-ins

Related Media

Some diligent patrol work paid off early Tuesday morning when Grass Valley Police officers arrested a man suspected of breaking into more than 20 vehicles.

“Based on a large amount of prior vehicle burglaries, officers set up surveillance locations” in Grass Valley, including on Brighton and Butler streets, said Sgt. Clint Bates.

An officer spotted a man identified as Keith Alexander Rushing walking in the 500 block of Butler Street at about 3 a.m., carrying several bags and items, Bates said.

Rushing reportedly jumped a row of hedges into a yard and tried to hide but was detained and arrested on suspicion of petty theft and violating probation.

“He was found in possession of several different victims’ property,” Bates said.

An area check was conducted, and as of Wednesday morning, more than 20 vehicle break-ins were identified that Rushing was responsible for, Bates said.

“All the vehicles were unlocked,” he said. “All had just happened and had been unreported.”

The break-ins were found on Brighton and Butler streets and on Packard Drive, as well as on Candy and Primrose lanes, which Bates said were hit particularly hard.

“It basically was a big circle from Condon Park to the fairgrounds,” Bates said.

Rushing was found with approximately $75 in change, most of which consisted of silver dollars that have been identified by the victim of the theft, Bates said.

He also reportedly had other items that included checks, checkbooks, debit cards and credit cards, sunglasses, a cell phone and an iPod.

Rushing is suspected in similar thefts that have occurred in Grass Valley for more than a month, Bates said.

He was booked into county jail on charges of petty theft, violating probation, trespassing and being in possession of stolen property and was being held without bail.

Rushing has been arrested multiple times by Grass Valley Police for breaking into vehicles, most recently in December, after a man leaving early for work on Colfax Avenue reportedly saw him getting out of ﻿a vehicle and fleeing the scene. Rushing reportedly had stolen property on him, which was recovered and booked into evidence.

In December 2012, he reportedly was spotted trying to break into a vehicle on Whiting Street and was linked to a number of similar burglaries in the area.

Court records show seven misdemeanor and four felony cases involving Rushing since September 2012; the most recent case was a February arrest for reportedly carrying a switchblade knife.

He was set to appear in court today on that case and a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance dating back to a January arrest.